Richard Ryman column: Pat's will provide hot dogs and more downtown

Pat's, a new restaurant, will open in early to mid-January in the former Erbert & Gerbert's Sandwich Shop space, 227 N. Washington St., in downtown Green Bay.

Owner Pat Reetz said specialty hot dogs will anchor the menu, which also will include soups, salads, hot sandwiches, cookies, pies and other comfort food.

"It will have a hot dogs, apple pie and baseball theme," Reetz said of the remodeled restaurant.

The establishment will have indoor seating for 26 to 28 people and likely outdoor seating in the summer.

Hot dogs will come in beef, veggie and turkey, in 26 or so configurations. The outcome can be simple - cheese dogs, chili dogs and sauerkraut dogs; creative - pizza and taco dogs; or bizzare - the Dirty Dog, which includes pickles and chocolate syrup.

"It's an acquired taste," Reetz said. "That will get people coming in and saying, 'What is that?'"

Reetz also plans kid-friendly items with an eye toward the Green Bay Children's Museum just north of his restaurant.

This is the first restaurant for Reetz, who had a career in highway construction but says he always loved cooking.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., or bar close, on Fridays and Saturdays. Pat's will be closed on Sundays.

Reetz said closing times on the weekend may change, depending on what works best with the late-night downtown crowd.

Erbert & Gerbert's moved across North Washington Street last spring.

Open MRI installed

St. Vincent Hospital installed open MRI technology at the Prevea Ashwaubenon Health Center, 2502 S. Ashland Ave., Ashwaubenon. Open MRI technology spares patients the claustrophobic sensation of a traditional MRI and also allows use by a wider range of individuals. The Hitachi Oasis 1.2 Tesla unit can accommodate up to 660 pounds and has easy access.

"A stronger magnet provides better images and precise details, so the quality of the patient's study is superior. It also cuts down on the exam time so the patient is in the scanner for a shorter period," said Dr. Ryan Peirce of Green Bay Radiology.

The unit will be used for diagnosis of sports injuries, spine issues and neurological symptoms.

St. Vincent Hospital is owned by Hospital Sisters Health System. Hospital Sisters is an investor in Prevea, which is majority-owned by its physicians. Green Bay Radiology is a contract partner with area Hospital Sisters hospitals and Prevea.